Avid® Media Composer® and Film Composer® Input and Output Guide Release 9.0 for the Windows NT® Operating System a tools for storytellers™ © 1999 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in USA. Avid Media Composer and Film Composer Input and Output Guide for the Windows NT Operating System• Part 0130-04216-01 Rev. A • August 1999 2 Contents Chapter 1 Planning a Project Working with Multiple Formats .............................. 16 About 24p Media ........................................... 17 Types of Projects............................................ 18 Planning a Video Project..................................... 19 Planning a 24p Project ....................................... 22 NTSC and PAL Image Sizes .............................. 22 Workflow: Film Source, SDTV Transfer, Multiformat Output 23 Film or HD Video Source, SDTV Downconversion, Multiformat Output ................................................. 26 Alternative Audio Paths ................................. 29 NTSC Audio and Video Synchronized During Transfer .. 30 NTSC Audio and Video Digitized Separately ........... 31 PAL Audio and Video Synchronized During Transfer (PAL Method 1)........................................... 32 PAL Audio and Video Digitized Separately (PAL Method 2)...................................... 33 Film Project Considerations.................................. 34 Film Shoot Specifications ................................ 34 Viewing Dailies ......................................... 35 Film Dailies Method ................................. 36 Video Dailies Method ................................ 37 3 Chapter 2 Film-to-Tape Transfer Methods About the Transfer Process................................... 39 Transferring 24-fps Film to NTSC Video....................... 39 Stage 1: Transferring Film to Video ........................ 40 Frames Versus Fields ................................. 40 Part 1: Using a 2:3 Pulldown to Translate 24-fps Film to 30-fps Video ........................................ 40 Part 2: Slowing the Film Speed to 23.976 fps ............ 42 Maintaining Synchronized Sound ..................... 43 Stage 2: Digitizing at 24 fps............................... 44 Transferring 24-fps Film to PAL Video......................... 45 PALMethod1........................................... 46 Stage 1: Transferring Sound and Picture to Videotape.... 46 Stage 2: Digitizing at 24 fps ........................... 46 PALMethod2........................................... 47 Stage 1: Transferring Picture to Videotape .............. 47 Stage 2: Digitizing at 24 fps ........................... 48 How the Avid System Stores and Displays 24p Media .......... 48 Displaying Media While Editing.......................... 49 Displaying Media During a Digital Cut.................... 49 Film-to-Tape Transfer Guidelines ............................. 50 Film-to-Tape Transfer Options................................ 51 Transfer Quality......................................... 51 Additional Film Transfer Aids ............................ 52 Chapter 3 Logging Preparing Log Files for Import ............................... 54 Converting Log Files with Avid Log Exchange.............. 54 Using Drag-and-Drop Conversion ..................... 60 Creating Avid Logs ...................................... 62 Transferring Bins from MediaLog ......................... 64 Double-Checking the Log Files ........................... 65 Importing Shot Log Files .................................... 66 4 Logging Directly into a Bin .................................. 68 Logging Tips............................................ 68 Logging Preroll...................................... 68 Logging Timecode ................................... 68 Naming Tapes ....................................... 69 Logging with an Avid-Controlled Deck .................... 70 Adding a Memory Mark ................................. 74 Logging with Non-Avid-Controlled Decks ................. 74 Logging Film Information ................................... 77 Displaying Film Columns ................................ 77 Entering the Pulldown of the Sync Point................... 79 Entering Frames-Per-Second Rates for PAL Transfers........ 82 Entering Key Numbers .................................. 82 Entering Additional Timecodes (Optional) ................. 83 Entering the Ink Number (Optional) ...................... 84 Entering Additional Film Data............................ 84 Modifying Clip Information Before Digitizing................. 85 Using the Modify Command ............................. 85 Modify Command Options ........................... 87 Exporting Shot Log Files..................................... 89 Chapter 4 Preparing to Digitize Preparing the Hardware ..................................... 94 Selecting Settings ........................................... 95 General Digitize Settings ................................ 95 General Settings ........................................ 97 Film Settings ........................................... 98 Configuring Decks......................................... 100 Deck Settings Options .................................. 104 Deleting Deck Configuration Elements ................... 106 Setting Deck Preferences ................................... 106 Setting Up the Compression Tool ............................ 108 Compression Tool Settings .............................. 108 5 Choosing a Video Resolution and Color Rate.............. 110 Entering Capture Mode..................................... 111 Setting Up the Digitize Tool................................. 113 Selecting a Deck ....................................... 115 Selecting a Tape ........................................ 115 Selecting Source Tracks ................................. 117 Setting the Pulldown Switch ............................ 118 Choosing a Resolution in the Digitize Tool................ 120 Choosing a Target Bin .................................. 120 Selecting the Target Drives .............................. 121 Targeting a Single Drive............................. 121 Targeting Separate Drives for Audio and Video ........ 122 Interpreting the Time-Remaining Display ................ 122 Selecting a Custom Preroll .............................. 123 Digitizing to Multiple Media Files ....................... 124 Digitizing Across Timecode Breaks ...................... 127 Preparing for Audio Input .................................. 129 Choosing the Audio File Format ......................... 129 Establishing Sync for Audio-Only Input .................. 131 Checking for a Valid Digital Sync Signal .............. 132 Adjusting Audio Project Settings ........................ 132 Using the Audio Tool ................................... 135 Resizing the Audio Tool ............................. 137 Adjusting the Reference Level ....................... 137 Choosing a Peak Hold Option........................ 139 Adjusting Audio Input Levels ....................... 140 Creating Tone Media ................................ 141 Calibrating the Eight-Channel Audio I/O Device .......... 142 Calibrating Input Channels for the Audio I/O Device... 143 Calibrating Output Channels for the Audio I/O Device .145 Using the Console to Check Audio Levels................. 145 Preparing for Video Input .................................. 147 Using the Factory Preset Buttons ......................... 148 6 Calibrating Video Input................................. 149 Saving Settings ........................................ 156 Saving a Custom Default Setting for the Video Input Tool . 157 Adjusting Video Levels for Tapes Without Color Bars ...... 158 Digitize Preparations Check List ............................ 160 Chapter 5 Digitizing Before You Begin .......................................... 162 Special Digitizing Procedures ............................... 163 Logging Errors to the Console ........................... 163 Creating Subclips On-the-Fly............................ 164 Adding Locators On-the-Fly ............................. 165 Adding Clip Names and Comments On-the-Fly ........... 166 Digitizing and Logging at the Same Time..................... 167 Digitizing from a Mark IN to a Mark OUT ................ 168 Setting Both Marks ................................. 169 Setting Only One Mark ............................. 170 Digitizing On-the-Fly................................... 170 Autodigitizing ......................................... 173 Digitizing from a Non-Avid-Controlled Deck ............. 175 Digitizing with Time-of-Day Timecode ................... 177 Digitizing to the Timeline .................................. 177 Digitizing Video Without Pulldown into a 24p NTSC Project ... 179 Batch Digitizing from Logged Clips.......................... 179 Preparing to Batch Digitize .............................. 180 Resizing the Digitize Tool ........................... 180 Preparing Settings for Unattended Batch Digitizing .... 181 Batch Digitize Settings Options ...................... 182 Batch Digitizing Clips .................................. 183 Redigitizing Your Material.................................. 185 Redigitizing Master Clips and Subclips .................. 186 Redigitizing Sequences ................................. 187 Saving Two Versions of a Sequence When Redigitizing .187 7 Using Decompose When Redigitizing ................ 188 Redigitizing the Sequence Without Using Decompose . 190 Relinking Clips by Key Number ............................ 192 Modifying the Pullin